LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Don't Confirm Daschle Appointment

The president and those in Congress apparently saw no problem in appointing a man as Secretary of the Treasury who couldn't handle his own taxes. Only two possibilities exist: dishonesty or incompetence. In either case, this should disqualify him from running our treasury.

People seeking high office should be held to a higher standard. Some warn us the economy is in dire shape; there's no time to waste debating petty things like presidential appointments. I would suggest that the president ought to have considered that when choosing his nominee. He should have chosen a responsible law-abiding adult.

Now the Senate is considering another appointee who didn't pay his taxes. Tom Daschle, the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, owed $140,000 due to falsely reported taxes. Senator Harry Reid said Daschle will be confirmed because of his long career as a public servant. For the record, Mr. Daschle was a senator from South Dakota who was fired by his constituents. They felt he was no longer fit to be senator so we're going to give him one of the top jobs in the land? Please call Senators Murray (202) 224-2621 and Cantwell (202) 224-3441. Ask them to vote no on Daschle's confirmation.